Chương 18: Inspiration

Martin yawns loudly, trying not to fall asleep as he look through a pair of binoculars.

"I hate stakeouts."

"I am in agreement." Shrike says, looking into the sun.

"I prefer that my eyes observe objects with consistent value, not waiting for the thing of importance to enter my line of sight."

"You really don't have to be here, Shrike. You can be on the ground. We're waiting for someone, and you're not watching anyway."

"Very well." She slides down off the roof they were waiting on, breaking her fall with a barrier. She checks her group chat again, trying to blend in. It's been a week since she started it. CA: Is Isopod still doing his perching thing? It's been two days! DE: Yeah! He can go for weeks at a time. It's a gargoyle thing. CZ: meanwhile i spent half a day flying around the mountains to find a kid whose parents assured deer that they had "only taken their eyes off him for a second" DE: Is that common?

CZ: yes, and the phrasing implies the child was taken by a magical beast. there is a great irony here, since ijirait are said to intentionally get children lost in the snow CA: I mean technically, you were the last person to see them before you brought them back to their parents. CZ: i mean technically you can stop typing. deer is chastising me as we speak for taking too long. it is a damnable mountain, it takes time to search CA: I would have quit by now.

CZ: i would but he does provide leeway for my habits DE: Your awful habits.: (CA: Not this argument again... CZ: it is in my nature. i will not apologize. She puts the phone away as Martin chirps in her earpiece." Got 'em. By the Ihop. Blue coat with black trim." Shrike slowly walks to intercept him, and stands in front of him on the busy sidewalk. Too dangerous to let him get in his car, so it has to be here." Hello. I am Shrike, a magical beast hunter. You have recently purchased numerous suspicious objects, namely a large terrarium, several pounds of salt flat salt, and now live insects."" I... keep snakes." He says, nervously looking around." Death worms are not a snake species, they are amphisbaenians." He grits his teeth." I have a permit. Let me get it?"" Very well." He reaches into his pocket, and splashes a small vial at her, containing a hissing green concoction. It splatters harmlessly against a barrier she creates, before it starts eating into the concrete beneath them." Martin, is this a potential water issue..?"" Nope, just dirt. That's why I picked this spot," Martin notes over the earpiece, panting as he jogs over." Excellent foresight," Shrike replies before returning focus to the illegal worm breeder." I ask you to avoid making this more difficult than needed. I am filling in for the usual human hunter who is currently indisposed on a rescue mission. It is significantly less patient than I am." The worm breeder tries to step backward, but is tripped by a shaft of hardened light. He falls onto the ground, just in time for Martin to make it over and handcuff him." Shrike, check the bag?" Shrike nods, looking inside his opaque shopping bag. Inside are live crickets, and a pair of eggs." Two eggs, feeder insects." Martin nods." Easy evidence. Cleanup team is already at his apartment, too. Now we just wait for the cops."" Not a retrieval team as usual?"" Nope, this guy is just a normal criminal, not a magical beast." After around fifteen minutes of tense waiting, a hail of sirens begin to fade in from the streets. Three police cars pull up to them, and get out with guns raised. Martin starts to walk over to them, but is stopped." Uhh... we got the guy here. I have a license."" Stay where you are! The girl is a magical beast." One officer says over a megaphone." yeah. She's my partner." The officer speaks again." Unidentified magical beast, if you are a licensed hunter, reach slowly into your pocket, and take out your identification." Shrike does so, extremely slowly reaching into her pocket. It's empty." My apologies, this-""Last warning!" Shrike withdraws her hand as slowly as she put it in, and reaches for her other pockets equally slowly. She finds it on the third, holding it up triumphantly." Approach me, as slowly as you can, for visual confirmation." Shrike nods, walking over slowly, one step every few seconds. It takes almost two full minutes to reach them. The officer reads the license to another, who types it into an ancient laptop. The one on the laptop shakes his head after a moment. The officer throws the license off to the side." Fake license? You think we're stupid?" Martin groans." She's a moon-rank, you have to use the other database!" The officer clicks a few things, before copy and pasting the number into the other database. He gives a thumbs up. The officer with the megaphone relays the all clear to the others. Two move in to apprehend the death worm breeder, as a third starts interviewing Martin. Shrike intently stares at the officer whose megaphone is now tossed into the trunk of the squad car." May I ask what the miscommunication was, so I may alter my behavior to accommodate?" She rolls her eyes." Get a collar or something with the license on it." A collar? It would likely not fit below the neck guard, and would be a grabbing hazard if over it." I do not believe it would fit well with my clothing choice."" Smartass." As the police leave. Martin stands next to Shrike." That was an incredibly goddamn stupid waste of time. Not your fault, normal police don't really know how to deal with non-humans." Shrike picks her license up off the ground." Next time, it may be more efficient to simply ignore their orders and allow them to shoot at me as I give them my license."" Don't... don't do that. You handled it correctly, love." She looks at the license in her hand." I believe I am starting to understand Isopod and Caribou more." SC: I was almost fired upon by police today. I do not envy Caribou's work. CZ: the police are a nuisance IR: caribou has it right. did ya get the guy at least? SC: Yes. Also, welcome back. DE: I'm so glad everyone's okay! CA: Hypothetical: If Caribou's an ijiraq, and I also have memory altering powers, what would happen if we both went up to the same person? IR: something really funny probably - Ximena rings the doorbell to the small house. A new initiative she's decided to spearhead. She's heard troubling things from other parts of the country about non-human persons being subjected to horrible conditions, and can't imagine Stolatz was keeping too close an eye on things. Shrike answers with a tired "I have informed you twice. I will not review your damnable resumé." Ximena recoils. She was prepared for many things, but not that." What?"" you are not Kimberly. I apologize. Please enter." She steps aside, rubbing her eyes. She's dressed in the fairly shoddy jogging suit she used to wear, and not that beautiful suit thing she has now. Maybe for sleeping in? Ximena steps through the door, looking around the room. Fairly clean, smells like firewood, nothing unusual." Thank you. Did Martin forget to let you know I was dropping by?"" Yes. Or perhaps I had forgotten that he told me. Regardless, I am surprised you are here, but take no issue." Martin takes the stairs two at a time, wearing sweatpants and a yellow-stained shirt." Damn it, sorry Ximena. I forgot you were coming today." Ximena is patient with him. He's been scatterbrained lately, and given the relationship he's gotten himself into, she can't really blame him." It's fine, really! I'm the one intruding." She turns to Shrike again, explaining the situation." If Martin didn't tell you, I'm just doing a little checkup on your living situation, and a bit of research on how you adapt to your heat needs." She holds up a clipboard, ready to record some things from Shrike. The heat adaptation research is more of a side project, mostly just recording what exactly Shrike does to stay warm. She sees the glowing fireplace, so that's one thing at least. Shrike's eyes narrow." I will not be researched further. It has ended poorly twice now." That's a fair reaction from Shrike, Ximena thinks. Maybe she just needs to be more specific." It's not like that, just taking your vitals and a look at the measures you're-""No, Ximena." Shrike folds her arms." This is non-negotiable."" It's routine, not-"" No." Ximena looks at her clipboard, and with sagging shoulders moves a page to the back. That's a big blow. Shrike seems the most inexplicable of the four non-human hunters she manages, and evidently she doesn't trust her yet." Okay. I'm sorry for pushing it." Shrike's eyes remain fixed on her, but lose their edge." Thank you for confirming my autonomy."" For sure, for sure..." She trails off. Back to the task at hand." Okay, just taking a quick look around." Her eyes stall on the mass of blankets by the fireplace, as she walks by to investigate." Umm... do you have a bed, Shrike?"" Yes. This is simply my place to relax. I do not like much cushioning." She makes a note of that on her clipboard. Odd, but for someone who apparently hibernates between rocks or underground... Ximena's eyes drift to the mantle. Some rocks, an old coin... What's this? She picks up a strange, llama shaped jar. It feels rough, and old. Maybe a souvenir she can break the tension with?" This is interesting... hey, Martin, where'd you-" Martin's eyes are wide, mouth slightly open, shaking his head slowly. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Shrike, meanwhile, maintains her calm expression." Please return the conopa to the mantle." Ximena nods, gently placing the llama jar back in confusion. There's a faint bite in Shrike's voice that makes her start to sweat. Shrike's tone remains neutral as she directs Ximena." Now step away from the fireplace." She follows the instructions, hands tightly gripping her clipboard as she moves to the center of the room. What did she do to upset her? Shrike is clearly masking anger." Do not touch anything on the mantle. The items on display are important to me." Ximena covers her mouth. Oh God. Those aren't souvenirs. She speaks shakily." Wait, are they from your past..?"" Yes." She nods." I... I'm so sorry. I didn't know."" I believe you." Shrike is getting tense. Raised shoulders, bent knees, shifting weight... Maybe she can recover from this. Shrike has very faint memories from her past, so she could..." If... if you'd like, I can try and date them for you, take them to my lab so-""Ximena, you are overstepping immensely." Shrike's tone starts to lose its neutrality. Ximena's muscles turn cold." You enter into my home, request I submit to tests, handle objects sacred to me that I refuse to let even Martin touch, and follow that display by asking to investigate them? I understand you are not frustrating me intentionally, but I ask you please maintain a level of decorum. This is not an archaeological exhibit. This is not a zoo. This is my home." Shrike clenches her fists, and releases them with a strained breath. Ximena's eyes dart to Martin, who takes a few steps to stand behind Shrike. Their united position makes sense. She didn't ask for Shrike's opinion on this." R-right. I'm sorry, I got overeager." Ximena chews on her cheek." We have resolved the problem, then. Nothing was damaged, and I forgive you. What did you wish to observe specifically regarding my living conditions?" Shrike seems to have largely relaxed again. Thank God she doesn't hold a grudge like Isopod or Damselfly." Thank you, Shrike. I... I would like to view your bedroom, to make sure your sleeping situation is good, with your permission."" Very well. I advise that you need not be concerned with myself. If I may, I believe Caribou is under intense strain."" Oh?" Ximena focuses in." What makes you say that?"" Our cohort maintains a group discussion over text."" Really?! May I see?"" Despite just recently mentioning your overstepping, I see no harm in this specifically." Shrike offers it to her, smirking. She scrolls for a few minutes, repeatedly reading and rereading, before offering the phone back to Shrike." I can't... what is going on?"" A safeguard to prying eyes."" So you all have a private place to talk with each other that humans can't access? That... I don't know if..." Ximena shakes her head. Who would want some government agent crawling around a private group chat?" Sorry. Obviously that's fine. You're all people doing a normal thing, its normal to have private discussions with others. Can you tell me more about Caribou's issue?"" I cannot. I only request you give careful attention when investigating its home."" Okay... yeah, I will." Ximena quietly chides herself. She really screwed this one up. Maybe it would be best to quit, and not risk angering anyone else... SC: Am I the first to have my home inspected for signs of abuse? IR: i live on a building ledge they can look at the bricks if they want DE: They never have with me. Weird! SC: Caribou, I believe your inspection is upcoming. CZ: a waste of time Caribou sets down a bowl of some kind of thick stew for all three of them, staying in a human form." I have other options if this isn't to your taste, Ximena." She shakes her head, taking a bite. It's surprisingly good." Thank you, this is delicious. Oh, if it's more comfortable for you, you can change to your usual form."" I am happy this way." Caribou glances at Deer, who silently eats. Once finished with dinner, Caribou begins cleaning the dishes as Deer gives Ximena a tour of the house." And this is Caribou's room." He opens a door, showing a comfortable looking double bed, a few sizes of pet bed, a bookshelf, a few paintings... comfortable looking." Don't touch the books, it can be neurotic about how they're organized." He laughs, closing it to move on with the tour. Ximena sticks her foot in the way, followed by entering. Something doesn't sit right." Just going to take a look around."" It doesn't like people snooping. You know shapeshifters, always so secretive," Deer says, as she ignores his protests. She runs her fingers along the books. No dust. Same with the table, and the bed. She flicks the light switch a few times, and checks for anything else out of place." Caribou, can you come here?" Ximena asks, looking around the hallway The water in the kitchen turns off, as Caribou enters the room." I was requested."" Yep. Sorry to bother you, but before I leave, I could really use your help. This is stupid, I know, but I dropped something in the crack of my car seat a few weeks back, and I can't fish it out. Could you be a mouse or something equally small?" Ximena doesn't need to see its eyes to know Caribou's opinion." Of course. I am honored to assist in any way I am able."" Perfect." She leaves the house, Caribou close behind. She opens the car door, and makes sure Deer isn't following them. She gets in the back seat with Caribou, closing the door, and pointing at the one next to Caribou. He skeptically does so, keeping them both inside." Okay. The car is protected from magical scrying. Caribou, I-" Its expression changes in an instant upon hearing that." How did you know?" Caribou's mirrored glasses are unchanging as it asks, but she feels the ijiraq's eyes moving across her." Lightbulb was out." There's a hint of relief, tension leaving Caribou's taunt shoulders." You are very observant. Ximena, Deer is a less than ideal partner for me. He may be a skilled magician, but I am largely treated as somewhere between a servant and a convict. He believes I am bound to my base desires, and that I am permanently scheming against humanity. I sleep exclusively outside, not out of my preference, mind, but because he feels threatened when I am inside where he sleeps."" Good God... Why haven't you said anything?"" Two reasons. First, he scrys constantly, listening to everything I say and hear, and enjoys using it against me. Had I said anything in normal circumstances, he would simply have said it was typical ijiraq behavior to lie. Second, my work for the MBR is important, and I do not wish to jeopardize it because of some irritating human's eccentricities." Ximena sighs, leaning back, at least partially out of relief for not giving up on the home investigations." You can just get a new partner."" I have tried to do so in the past. Have you forgotten that I am capable-""Capable of making people forget things? It's fine." Is it being serious? What the hell did Stolatz say?" You know that Shrike tore a third of the MBR building apart, right?"" You do not understand the risk in such an ability. I am dangerous at my core. I seek vengeance against those who disrupt the worlds. I will lie and cheat and steal to reach my goals. I care little for human morality. I take rare pleasure in putting humans through hellish conditions."" Yeah, uh-huh." Its really trying to sell itself." This conversation is tiring. What are you proposing, Ximena?"" I'm proposing there are a bunch of unstarred hunters that would benefit from you saving their asses as they get field experience. You're an individual that has agency. I'm not Stolatz, I'm not going to shackle you to someone who treats you like an attack dog."" Deer, despite his foul nature, requires an aide. He is of poor health, unsighted, and-""Then we get him a nurse instead of a well regarded hunter. You're seriously trying to make me believe you're some dangerous monster while you make him meals three times a day and take care of him?" Caribou laughs, followed by turning to its natural form, the laugh changing along with it." Then I shall take you up on the offer. I have nothing here worth taking with me, beyond my cell phone. To sate my curiosity, were you tipped off by someone?" Ximena's eyes flick to the left." No."" Shrike, I assume."" I said no." Her brow furrows." I am a far better liar than you will ever be. I should send Shrike a thank you present for helping me, in addition to kicking her in the shin for meddling in my affairs." Ximena watches the series of interviews Caribou has. Despite not having any authority, there's a general understanding that an experienced, sapient magical beast is an extremely valuable partner. A half-dozen novice hunters have already inquired." Holy shit... what the hell are you? Change back, this is disgusting!" Caribou lifts his glasses, looking at the freshly hired hunter for a moment. He puts them back down." Next."" Holy shit... No, didn't know you were an ijiraq. I know what your kind do, kidnapping children from their parents and leaving them die in the snow. It's fucking sickening." Caribou doesn't get the chance to erase her memory before she leaves the way she came. So be it. Not worth chasing her down over." Holy shit... that's cool as hell. I gotta ask, when your jaw cracks into place like that, does it hurt?"" I do not see the relevance." Caribou studies him like it would its quarry. Younger, blonde, genuinely curious, far too casual. Strange for a hunter to be so... average." If it hurts, I'm not going to ask you to do it if I can help it. Okay, I know I'm showing how green I am, but you're a... damn it, I know this. Sideways mouth. Red eyes that make people forget meeting you... Irijaq?"" Ijiraq." Caribou smiles, in its own way, pulling its mandibles upwards." Also your partner, now, should you accept the offer." CZ: i have a new partner named elk IR: how did you manage that? did shrike hit someone with a few too many lumens? DE: That's not funny, Isopod! CA: It's a little funny. SC: Caribou kicked me in the shin yesterday, perhaps it is related? CZ: you left out the part where i gave you very expensive sweets. they were difficult to steal, and you are ungrateful." Yeah, this is my new partner, Caribou! He's an irijaq." Elk shows off his partner to a few hunter friends. Caribou makes a guttural rattling." Ijiraq. I am not a he. I am an it, a being between worlds."" Damn it... okay, this is Caribou. It's an ijiraq." Elk looks to his partner for confirmation, clearly proud once he receives it. CZ: elk is tiresome IR: is it bad CZ: mournful, even. he refuses to accept no for an answer IR: wanna clarify that a bit CZ: i will not listen to his "k popping" music for another instant or he will find his speakers in pieces Shrike groans, fumbling for her phone, and answering it." Hello, this is Shrike C." She mumbles quietly. It's 7am." Hello, Shrike."" Deer?" She asks with a whisper, looking at Martin's sleeping body." Yes. You should know, the ijiraq was hiding something important from you. Your dream with the snow? That's the spirit world. You have one foot in the grave already." Deer grins. Time to use all the leverage he has now that Stolatz isn't here to keep that bastard ijiraq in line. Teach that shapeshifting monster who's in control." Okay." Shrike stifles the urge to hang up." Was that all?"" Do you not understand? When you sleep, you are in the spirit world. On the border between life and death. Every time you sleep, you could fully enter in, dead permanently."" Okay. I'm going back to sleep now."" You think I'm lying?" Deer asks through his rage." How else would you meet the damned half-spirit creature?"" No, you are telling the truth. An obvious explanation, in hindsight. Goodnight, Deer." She hangs up, putting her phone on silent. Martin rolls over in his sleep, slinging an arm around her. Comfort beyond measure, she thinks." So... you go to the spirit world when you dream?" Martin asks." I'm not sure what that means."" Yes. I have been for some time, and have not changed. I have no concerns." Shrike rests her head on Martin's chest, remaining in their bed." You think it's nothing to worry about?" Shrike makes a phone call, holding up a finger in a waiting gesture." Caribou." Harsh wind gusts in the background of its phone. It's difficult to hear it speak." Caribou. Deer informed me of a secret." It expels a grunting groan, loud enough to overpower the gale." I was afraid he would stoop so low. Shrike, there is nothing for me to report, as there are many variables at play that I cannot as of yet pin down."" I understand. Am I at risk in any form?"" That is highly unlikely. You are a tourist in there, not a resident. Leave me be."" Thank you, Caribou." The ijiraq hangs up on Shrike without another word." See, Martin? All is well."" You really take things in stride. Reason number 78 I love you." Martin says with a smile." You already used 78, with 'watches my space wizard movies.'" Shrike pulls out a list on her phone, documenting each time Martin used the phrase." I suggest the 60s. Besides 64, which is 'very cute when scared', that range is open."" The fact you keep a list is 68." Caribou hangs up the phone." I apologize for spoiling our moment. Let us begin again." Caribou takes off its glasses, pulling its victim into locking eyes, and waiting a moment for it to take effect. The man is... up in the mountains? Where are his clothes... whose gloves are these? There's a flicker in the corner of his eye. He turns to face it, and it is gone. Again, he sees it flash by. He looks around, nothing but snow and rocks and trees... but the rocks and trees are growing farther away, as a grunting, choking laugh lashes out behind him. He turns around, and sees nothing. He shakes his head, turning back. The most horrible creature waits in front of him, jaw opened sideways, teeth on each side, sharp and grasping. It is wearing mirrored glasses, and only a simple hoodie and pants despite the cold." You are a killer." The man stumbles back into the snow "He... he deserved it! He stole my research, of course I was going to hex him!" It leans down, its hungry mouth twitching." You claim arbitration over another's human's mortality, so certainly you can control your own. Find your way down. If you do, you may do as you will. If you do not, you will die." The man scrambles down the mountain, chased by the monster's haunting laugh. He trips on a patch of ice only a few minutes in, tumbling into a tree well nearly ten feet deep, landing face first into the powder. He tries desperately to right himself and climb out, but the thin powdery snow refuses to release him." Wretched creature, only a moments alone and you find yourself without hope. This is your finale. A pathetic end to a nothing life. The ice has taken your heart already. I leave it claim the rest of you." He hears the crunch of footsteps in the snow walking away. It has been half an hour, stuck in this pit. He's freezing to death, skin turning gray. He's going to die. He's going to die because of this monster. No, because of himself. It was a heated moment, just one mistake. And now, he's going to die for it. A ladder falls down in front of him." Hey!" A new voice calls." I'm with MBR. You thought you could hide in the mountains?" The man scrambles up the rope ladder, terrified, crying from a dozen emotions as his blonde-haired rescuer pulls out a pair of handcuffs, and covers him in a space blanket. He's slowly walked to the back of a heavily dented pickup truck a quarter mile away. For some reason, when the murderer closes his eyes, he only sees red with two black pinpricks. Elk's tour of his apartment takes less than sixty seconds. There's not much to see in four rooms." So yeah. That's the lowdown. You like sleeping in beds?"" Most creatures do." Caribou responds, looking inside the nearly empty fridge. Unstarred hunters must not get paid much." Just checking. I have a plan. You take the bed, I'll sleep on the recliner. Once I can swing it, I'll buy another bed. Wait, would it be weird to you if both beds were in the same room? Yeah... I know the budget is kind of tight. I make forty a year, but I didn't get paid during my training, which lasted a few months. First paycheck is Friday, and after the loans-" Caribou exhales loudly." This is a depressing situation." Elk can't really argue. After working with a four star hunter's budget, this must be embarrassingly spartan." I know its rough, but once I start ranking up, one starred hunters make seventy, two starred ninety, three starred-""Enough. Speaking of money gives me a headache." Caribou looks out the cloudy window in the kitchen." Tell me, Elk. Did you enjoy my display today?"" Yeah, obviously! It was amazing. That bastard got exactly what was coming to him." Caribou's mandibles contort near the center." Your good judgement will be rewarded. I am a shapeshifter, and can take a small form to sleep, for the time being. From a mouse's perspective, a tissue box is extravagant." Elk breathes out in relief." Thank god. That recliner sucks."